Birmingham law firm advises on building groups merger

BUILDING products firms The Epwin Group and Latium have merged in an undisclosed deal part advised out of Birmingham.

Epwin, which owns Midlands-based brands Swish curtain tracks and Wrekin Windows, is owned jointly by existing shareholders Jim Rawson, chairman of the Epwin Group and Brian Kennedy, owner of Latium, the merger creates a new Group, Epwin Holdings.

With a combined turnover in excess of £275m and employing more than 2,500 people throughout the UK, it will be chaired by Mr Rawson and led by a new senior board which will include Mr Kennedy.

Mr Rawson said: “This represents a tremendous opportunity. The business groupings complement each other on many levels and the merger creates huge opportunities for our customers, staff and suppliers to benefit from the further development of a broad-based stable and financially secure group.”

Funding for the merged group has been provided by Barclays Corporate.

Mr Kennedy said: “The merger is an exciting venture which is a natural combination of interests in a tough market and challenging economy. The deal brings together an enviable amount of industry knowledge in a way that will enable these businesses to continue to develop and grow for the long term.”

Going forward the merger is expected to increase access throughout the building product and construction industry to the PVC recycling technologies developed by the Epwin Group.                                                                                                                                     
Advising on the deal was a team from law firm Pinsent Mason, led by corporate partner Paul Harkin and senior associate Zanna Patchett, assisted by Rhian Critchell and Christian Mulvihill. The banking team was led by banking senior associate Esther Parkes and associate Pippa Whitmore.
 
Commenting on the deal, Mr Harkin said: “We are delighted to have advised on the merger and wish the group every success.”